Man Who Sexually Violated Corpse on Subway Sentenced
A New York judge has sentenced a convicted illegal immigrant to five years in prison after a case that drew national attention because of the disturbing nature of the crime and the questions it raised about public safety and immigration enforcement.
Felix Rojas, a 44-year-old Mexican national, was sentenced Wednesday in Manhattan for sexually abusing and robbing the body of Jorge Gonzalez, 37, on a New York City subway train in April 2025. According to reports, Rojas remained silent during the hearing and did not address the court before sentencing.
The case shocked New Yorkers when prosecutors first revealed the details. Investigators said Gonzalez boarded a subway train and later lost consciousness. Authorities determined that he died on a subway bench and remained there for hours before Rojas encountered him.
According to prosecutors, rather than seeking medical assistance or notifying authorities, Rojas began searching the victim’s belongings and eventually sexually assaulted the corpse. Court records cited by multiple reports stated that Rojas repeatedly searched Gonzalez’s pockets and possessions during the incident.
Illegal migrant who raped a corpse on NYC subway is slapped with 5 years in prison https://t.co/yprTs9YQMa pic.twitter.com/ub6ySNqovm
— New York Post (@nypost) June 17, 2026
Prosecutors said the assault continued for more than 30 minutes. Surveillance evidence allegedly showed Rojas pausing whenever the train approached stations or when other passengers entered the subway car. During those moments, prosecutors said, he would sit down and attempt to appear uninvolved before resuming his actions after others left.
At one point, investigators said, Rojas moved the victim from the subway bench onto the floor. The incident came to an end only after a transit employee discovered Gonzalez’s body and contacted authorities.
The investigation led police to release surveillance images to the media. Roughly three weeks later, Rojas turned himself in after seeing the photographs, according to reports.
The case also drew attention because of Rojas’ immigration history. The Department of Homeland Security stated that he is a Mexican national who entered the United States illegally multiple times dating back to 1998. Following his arrest, Immigration and Customs Enforcement lodged an immigration detainer against him.
In addition to the five-year prison sentence, the court ordered 15 years of supervised release. Once his prison term is completed, federal immigration authorities are expected to seek his removal from the United States.